Boyd Bear Tracks

A lot has happened in this last month and I haven't had a chance to sit down and "Blog" about it all!

Lucas' birthday was June 25, which just happened to fall on a Monday (normally "pick up day" after our crazy weekends). Also, we were going to fly to the States on Tuesday, so there was a lot of packing, buying, and organizing going on. With all the activity, I told Lucas that we couldn't have a party with all his friends--it was going to be just our family. He was not very happy about that (especially since Ellie got to have a party with her friends!). But, I planned to make the day special for him. He said that he wanted a "tank" cake so I got everything together so I could make the cake.

Unfortunately, I woke up that Monday with all the symptoms of the terrible cold that had been going around here. So, I could hardly move--let alone make and frost a cake. But I did try! However, I over-beat the first batch of whipped cream and made butter! I threw it away because green butter doesn't look so good! Then, I didn't have anymore cream to make another batch of whipped cream (a little background--they don't sell whipped cream already whipped here. You can bet I would've calmly gone to the store and bought some!). In the end I ended up using a package of something "like" whipped cream to make the frosting. So Lucas finally did get his "tank" cake, but I think it's the ugliest cake I have ever made! It did taste good though.




We were so excited to get to Kansas where we got to see TONS of relatives. It was nice of Heather to plan a family reunion for us :-)! The wedding went well with just one hitch--see if you can guess! Yep, Eliana refused to walk down the aisle (which normally wouldn't be too much of a problem, except that she was the flower girl!). I think Lucas (the ringbearer) would have gone down the aisle, but I warned him to stay with his sister. Since I was the matron of honor, I was at the front of the church, and I had to go all the way out again to bring in the ringbearer and flower girl. :-) Someone asked me if that was planned. Sure, we "planned" for me to walk in, stand at the platform waving, and then walk out again only to return with two kids :-). Oh well, everyone said that people expect there to be problems when children are involved!:-) My kids were not the exception!



And, here are the new Aunt Heather and Uncle Kent! Not that "Aunt Heather" is a new aunt, it's just that she has a new last name :-).



The flights were not too bad. Just very long! The kids were good on the plane, except that Lucas got one of his usual headaches :-(. We thought that we would be staying an extra day in Toronto because the flight to Bogota was full and they didn't know if they would have a place for us. We changed flight carriers so they didn't "know" we were coming (I guess sometimes they overbook flights -- or maybe always! :-). However, they did manage to fit us in. We did have to do some seat exchanging because we wouldn't be next to our kids, but people were very cooperative. What was I thinking! I could've had someone else sit with my kids :-)! Oh well, next time :-)!

After we got back (the next day actually), we had a nice Fourth of July celebration with the other missionaries. So, the kids got to see their friends again and they were happy. That day I picked up the dog and now we are all back to "normal" with everyone accounted for.

As you can see, we've been in a "tornado" of activity (had to be a tornado -- we were in Kansas :-)), but we are all surviving! Jon is over his bronchitis and I'm finally getting my voice back (after about a week and a half!--my new record). Lucas is getting bored of vacation and "maybe" starting to get excited about starting a new school year. I know I've been having fun previewing the books :-)! And, Eliana is enjoying wearing her new dresses and skirts (I still don't know where she gets that preference from :-)).